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Who is Jo Anne Worley?
American actress, comedienne and singer Jo Anne Worley, was born in Lowell, Indiana USA on 6 September 1937, meaning that her zodiac sign is Virgo. She’s had roles in nearly 60 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for her voicing of Wardrobe in the 1991 animated family fantasy movie “Beauty and the Beast”, which Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale directed, and which starred Jesse Corti, Robby Benson and Paige O’Hara. It follows a prince who’s been cursed to look as a hideous monster, and a young woman who can see past his curse; the movie won 35 of its 67 award nominations, including two Oscar wins for Best Music, Original Song and Best Music, Original Score.
Jo Anne hasn’t had any roles since 2019, but hasn’t officially retired from acting.
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Education and early life
Jo Anne was raised alongside her four siblings in Lowell, by their father Joseph Lauraine Worley and mother Rose Irene (nee Gardner); Rose and Joseph divorced in 1962, and Jo Anne’s father went on to marry his second wife Nancy, with whom he had four children.
She became interested in comedy while attending high school, and was named ‘school comedienne’ prior to matriculating in 1955; she’s revealed that she went to church while growing up, but that she always lip synced to the hymns.
Jo Anne moved to Blauvelt, New York State upon completing her high school education, and enrolled at Midwestern State University on a drama scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1959.
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Roles in TV series
Jo Anne’s debut TV series role was her playing of Myrtle Tarantino in the 1960 episode “Baby Talk” of the family comedy “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis”, and her following role came in 1967, when cast to appear in the episode “One Rotten Apple” of the comedy “Captain Nice”.
In 1970, Jo Anne played Underwater Wife in an episode of the comedy “Pat Paulsen’s Half of Comedy Hour”, and she could then have been seen appearing in an episode or two of the fantasy horror drama “Night Gallery”, the crime drama “Adam-12” and the comedy “The Paul Lynde Show”.
She became famous following her appearance in 61 episodes of the hit musical comedy “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In”, created by Digby Wolfe, and which starred Dan Rowan, Dick Martin and Ruth Buzzi. It’s a ‘rapid fire sketch comedy’ show which aired from 1967 to 1973, and won 18 of its 52 award nominations. Concurrently, between 1970 and 1973, Jo Anne starred as Beverly Arnold Rhodes and Mrs Stevens in the popular romantic comedy “Love, American Style”, and could then have been seen appearing in an episode of the action adventure comedy “Emergency!”, the action crime drama “The Six Million Dollar Man”, and the crime drama “Get Christie Love!”
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=829491737948326
Her following notable performance was in 1985, when cast to voice Hoppopotamus in the animated family comedy “The Wuzzles”, which starred Stan Freberg, Brian Cummings and Henry Gibson, and follows a group of animals known as the Wuzzles.
The year 1992 heard Jo Anne voice a character in the episode “Penthouse Mouse/12 Angry Sheep/The Ant Attack” of the comedy “Tom & Jerry Kids Show”, while 1994 saw her play a supporting character in the episode “A Hippo Never Forgets” of the comedy “The Martin Short Show”. Between 1993 and 1996, Jo Anne voiced various characters in the critically acclaimed short animated adventure “The Pink Panther”, created by Bob Boyle, and which starred Matt Frewer, John Byner and Sheryl Bernstein. It follows the adventures of a pink panther, and the series was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition.
Jo Anne’s since played and voiced characters in an episode of around 10 TV series, while her three most recent roles have been in the 2011 episode “Zuri’s New Old Friend” of the family comedy drama “Jessie”, the 2012 episode “The Guidance Counselor” of the family comedy “The Middle”, and the 2019 episode “Belle ‘Stage Struck’” of the animated drama “Disney Comics in Motion” (voice role).
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Roles in movies
Jo Anne’s debut film role was in the 1962 family science fiction comedy “Moon Pilot”, and she could then have been seen playing supporting characters in the 1966 romantic comedy “Promise Her Anything”, the 1968 musical fantasy comedy “Head” and the 1971 comedy “The Feminist and the Fuzz”.
The year 1971 also saw her play Cynthia in the crime comedy drama “What’s a Nice Girl Like You…?”, directed by Jerry Paris, and which starred Brenda Vaccaro, Jack Warden and Roddy McDowall. It follows a working girl who’s been kidnapped and forced to impersonate a wealthy socialite. Jo Anne had roles in only three movies in the remainder of the ’70s: the 1976 family fantasy comedy “The Shaggy D. A.”, the 1978 musical “The Gift of the Magi” and the 1979 animated family “Nutcracker Fantasy” (voice role).
She appeared in two more movies in the ’80: the comedy “Instant TV”, and the family action adventure “The Time Crystal”, both released in 1981.
Happy 83rd Birthday to Jo Anne Worley! The voice of Miss Maples in A Goofy Movie and Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast (1991). pic.twitter.com/KxKiyhrVZY
— Alec Behan (@alec_behan) September 6, 2020
What marked the ‘90s for Jo Anne was perhaps her voicing of Miss Maples in the 1995 animated adventure comedy “A Goofy Movie”, directed by Kevin Lima, and which starred Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden and Jim Cummings. It follows Max who’s made a nearly impossible promise to his crush, and the film was nominated for five awards. The remainder of the ‘90s heard Jo Anne voice a character in the 1998 animated family adventure “Belle’s Magical World” and the 1999 animated family fantasy “Belle’s Tales of Friendship”.
She’s since had only a single film role: she portrayed The Usher (scenes deleted) in the 2008 musical comedy “Forever Plaid”.
Other credits
Jo Anne sang songs in eight episodes of the series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” in 1968 and 1969, and the song “Human Again” in the 1991 animated movie “Beauty and the Beast”.
She’s voiced Wardrobe in three video games: the 2000 “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: Magical Ballroom”, the 2005 “Kingdom Hearts II”, and the 2007 “Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+”.
Jo Anne’s been featured in numerous documentaries, most recently in the 2009 series “Lifestyle Magazine”, the 2012 movie “Carol Channing: Larger Than Life”, and the 2013 series “Teens Wanna Know”.
Some of the talk-shows in which she’s made a guest appearance include “Q N’ A with Miki and Shay”, “What’s Up Orange County”, and “The Hollywood Moment at Home Edition”.
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Love life and husband
Jo Anne prefers to keep the details of her love life to herself, but it’s still widely known that she was a married woman. She married American actor Roger Ferry in a private ceremony on 11 May 1975, attended by some of their closest family members and friends; Roger served in the US Air Force in the ‘50s, and then had roles in nearly 100 movies and TV series, while he’s perhaps still remembered for his portrayal of Major Christopher in the 1967 science fiction adventure series “Star Trek”. Jo Anne and Roger divorced in 2000, and he passed away on 12 July 2018, aged 85.
She hasn’t mentioned other men whom she’s been with, so Jo Anne seems to be unattached as of November 2022, was once married to Roger Ferry, and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Jo Anne’s a huge dog-lover. Back in 1999, she was cast to star as Pesudolus in the tour of the play “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, but because there was a problem with transporting her dogs, she chose to drop out and was replaced by famous American actor Rip Taylor.
She’s been the president of the non-profit organization Actors and Others for Animals since 2007.
One of Jo Anne’s closest friends is American actress and screenwriter Jackie Joseph.
She doesn’t have an Instagram account, but close to 1,000 pictures featuring Jo Anne have been uploaded onto the social media network by other users.
Some of her favorite actresses are Meryl Streep, Gal Costa and Myrna Casas, while some of her favorite movies include “Linda Sara”, “Bacurau” and “Foreign Land”.
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Height, eyes and wealth
Jo Anne’s age is 85. She has green eyes and short brown hair, she weighs around 140lbs (65kgs) and is 5ft 7ins (1.71m) tall.
Jo Anne’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2 million, as of November 2022.
